Glossary
22nd Amendment
A constitutional amendment that limits the president to two terms in office, or a maximum of 10 years if they complete another president's unexpired term.
Example:
After President Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms, the 22nd Amendment was ratified to prevent any future president from holding power for such an extended period, ensuring a regular rotation of leadership.
Expansive View (of presidential power)
The belief that presidents should have broad inherent powers to act in the nation's best interest, even if not explicitly stated in the Constitution.
Example:
A president holding an expansive view might authorize military action without a formal declaration of war, arguing it's necessary to protect national security.
FDR's Four Freedoms
A set of goals articulated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941, proposing fundamental freedoms that people everywhere in the world ought to enjoy: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
Example:
President Roosevelt's articulation of the Four Freedoms served as a moral justification for American involvement in World War II and an expansive vision for global human rights.
Federalist No. 70
An essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing for a single, unified executive in the U.S. government.
Example:
Hamilton believed a single president, as advocated in Federalist No. 70, would ensure quick decision-making and clear accountability, unlike a multi-person executive that could lead to indecision and blame-shifting.
Habeas Corpus
A legal principle that requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.
Example:
During the Civil War, President Lincoln's controversial suspension of habeas corpus allowed the government to detain individuals suspected of disloyalty without immediate judicial review, a move debated for its constitutionality.
Limited View (of presidential power)
The belief that presidential power is strictly defined by the Constitution, and presidents should only act within those explicit bounds.
Example:
A president with a limited view would likely seek congressional approval for most significant policy changes, adhering closely to the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution.
New Deal
A series of programs and reforms enacted in the United States between 1933 and 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, designed to combat the Great Depression.
Example:
The New Deal introduced programs like Social Security and the Civilian Conservation Corps, fundamentally expanding the federal government's role in the economy and social welfare.
Steward of the People (Theodore Roosevelt)
Theodore Roosevelt's philosophy that the president is a 'steward of the people' and should do anything the needs of the nation demand, unless expressly forbidden by the Constitution or law.
Example:
As a steward of the people, Theodore Roosevelt pursued aggressive trust-busting and conservation policies, believing it was his duty to act boldly for the public good even without explicit constitutional directives.
Taft's Our Chief Magistrate and His Powers
A book by President William Howard Taft outlining his limited view of presidential power, emphasizing strict adherence to constitutional grants of authority.
Example:
In Our Chief Magistrate and His Powers, Taft argued that a president should not act unless explicitly authorized by the Constitution or statute, contrasting sharply with more expansive interpretations of the office.